Today we have dawned with 10 cm of snow in the Campo de las Naciones, Unkasoft offices. So, I tried to drive to the first meeting in Madrid, to prepare the Spanish Pavilion at the Mobile World Congress, at least I drove to the nearest underground station. Some time ago we saw Unkasoft Salamanca in the snow.


However, at the end we have carried out the meeting. Two out of three companies prepare a proposal for the pavilion production (the other two had no time, given within one month, crisis?).

This year we expect a bit more accessible and representative of the Spanish technology.
I’m surprised that big companies will not be present as they have done in other years.

Labels: events, madrid, snow

Only a few weeks to jump into the Mobile World Congress. Once again we’re going to be there in the Spaniard Pavilion showing the trend for this 2009. Coming soon, our news for the free games site, GameSpace.
Direct link to gamespace:












So we meet you in Barcelona.

Labels: advergaming, company, events, mobile advertising

Unkasoft started the first part of innovate!Europe. A very interesting event for any startup with European and global vision.
The aim is to identify the most promising startups and drive them into the global technology market.
The Spaniard presence is not bad and you can see a listing from the GuideWireGroup's blog -one of the organizers-:

• Iris Experience - online widget creation for websites, desktops and mobile phones.
• Safe Creative - free online copyright registration for the digital era
• Spainsoft - inventory and management of knowledge assets
• Cierzo Development - helping brands track customer feedback across the Web
• Fasenet - tools for e-learning and enterprise internal training
• Bitext - natural language capabilities for any application
• Mapalia - local social network for, ultimately, every city in the world
• SevenClick - push mobile communication platform, allowing encryption in multi-device environments
• Unkasoft - mobile "advergaming" - place any type of ad inside any type of mobile app
• Litebi - business intelligence delivered via software as a service
• Ta with you - image and text translation for the mobile phone
• Elondra - Salesforce applications for mobile phones
• aquaMobile - printed material making interactive
• SinAlergia - consumer preventive healthcare resources for common diseases
• Ebox - administration of corporate networks, specifically focused on SMBs
• Trourist - travel social network to create and collaborate on trips
• Open City Technology - e-government platform for developed and developing local governments
• Ideas4All - global community of ideas to build the global brain
• mmChannel - multichannel digital entertainment and community Enablement solutions
• Alphasip - nanotech medical diagnostic systems
• MobilCash - comprehensive, easy to implement mobile payment systems
• Groupvision Consulting - group collaboration tools for every type of team
• Brio Can Play - applying artificial intelligence to video game creation

Actually it was a pleasure to share the experience with my friends from Elondra and aquaMobile.
The schedule will follow what you see here, if you are interested.

Labels: company, events, innovate europe, startups

This week I have had several meetings thanks to UK Trade & Investment and LTN (London Technology Network). To be honest, it was a good idea to join them in this venture. Just endorse it for all who want to begin activities in the United Kingdom.
Among the activities of the week, we’ve participated in the The Next Generation Web event. Considering that took place in the One Great George Street, in the heart of Westminster, what better place?
Among the attendees, Universities and Industry, an excellent mix, but with slightly different visions : ). Some more focused on the damn money and the rest more on pure research.

I liked the exposure of SpinVox, and the round of questions related to social networks. The first comment that call my attention was,' There are studies on the detection of the sexual orientation of a person through his network of contacts' (at this point some would be smiling, others would already be on Facebook). I imagine that this study might cover detection of political orientation or if I use to go to Starbucks (of course).
And another question was' Where is the line between private and personal life? ', We’re a constant broadcasting system, including Facebook, Twister, Blog, Flickr, YouTube, LinkedIn, ... there is an uninterrupted generation of information, indexed and published. Not only our publication, but for those around them –you know, that photo your friend uploaded, and you appear background when you should be at home-.

I also liked the large presence of games companies, us with advergaming idea, location-based games, ideas for serious games, ...

Labels: company, events, social networks

Unkasoft take part the next day on November 25 in the second edition of FICOD.
Our contribution, imho, the best one: The interactive workshop. However, it is also the most complicated because we need the public to participate. So, we wait you on 25th at 12.15, in-game advertising workshop.

For those who can’t attend the interactive workshop, you have a second change to enjoy a virtual workshop, thanks to Laura. Yesterday was the making-on, it really surprised me. I’m going to publish the URL with the virtual workshop as soon as possible.

Labels: events

The first edition of Mobile 2.0 Europe is over. Always organize something like this is knotty, so congratulations!.

The event has begun with Nokia and m: metrics. From the data supplied by this second, surprise me especially those about the U.S. market. They indicate that 27% use 3G services, which actually don’t exist. The only thing I saw in the U.S. to use 3G is using the 3G Sprint modems.

What about iPhone, definitely it’s the best marketing campaign in the history. Everyone talks about the magic of those handsets that make people use mobile services several times over. In addition, it’s the cool picture for all the presentations we have.

The slot about Mobile Social Media has left disappointed me a bit, to be frankly.

Then time for the Early Stage Start-ups presentations, we felt the pressure:

• Aka-aki, social networking with location capabilities, reminded me what I saw in the Spaniard Tooio.
• Dial2Do. hands-free service, even supports Twitter, for the most dependents. You can dictate what you want to twitter.
• Shout'em. It reminds me of what I said Roberto, sell 'picks and shovels'. They offer a tool for microblogging sites. Its focus on having support multiple languages and move into local communities.
• ViaMobility. Another site for widgets, they want to be the 'player' for widget.
• YouLynx. Our friend, Jorge has just received investment from La Caixa. They will be focus on the convergence PC - Mobile, but also decisive on the social network. There are playing in a hard arena.
• Zipipop. I agree with the jury, have offered a very fresh service with a very good image for organizing social activities. If I would be a VC, I would have missed some information about the business model and team. But they have potential, for sure.

I liked the Venture Capital panel. And I heard many interesting messages:

They want invest in companies which a clear business model. The leading edge technology or ideas are not enough. They begin to be reluctant to revenue share models with mobile operators.

Not having data flat rates continues to affect everyone in the industry.
Maximilian from Atlas, spots that there are much innovation and products, but little business.

We must have the right model at the right time. Many have failed by removing an idea ahead of time or later.

The executive team is vital –point that few have shown at the event-. it’s essential to have a plan and a team of people who can execute the plan.

Then began the Pre-series A:

• Kooka. Visual search engine. I mean I've seen something similar in AquaMobile. They presented the idea clearly, indicating what they need from the VC.
• MobiLuck. Friend-finder. Frankly I liked more the Zipipop service.
• Rummble. Location system that has a sensational team. They are selected as the best in the pre-series A.
• Secufone. Service focusing on security. It allows you to send SOS alerts or track you for security reasons. From the VC seems they mentioned many points, but the presentation wasn’t enjoyable at all.
• Unkasoft. Well, I will be objective. The beginning not good enough, not booted the presentation and suddenly played the video. From our side, we failed to don’t make clearer the business model. However, asking people, they love the concept and solution. The presentation goes into the team and investment required, points needs for the VC. Jaime has made an enormous effort and great strides to improve.
• Viif, have a community around mobile entertainment. But I admit that I disconnected : (

Panel discussion with ops starts and security people close nearly enter in the room, as saying in Twitter. Do operators support innovation whether or not? What do you think?

Operators commented that they are building the highways for our mobile services. But people do not seem very happy.

Alike, an operator commented that 'rather than the business model', they concerns 'quality of service,' because in case of problem always call them.

Commented that are open to negotiate data flat rates, for example, ‘iPhone has agreed flat rates with an interesting model for both sides’. Here I make a remark, I do not know if apple and unkasoft, would have the same opportunities for that.

The moderator asked, 'but in the short term, How are you going to help Start-ups?'. First answer from an operator is, 'the next two months we’re on holidays but then things can move on'. Carlos Domingo, reacts soon, and said is open to ideas and help start-ups today, and is giving his e-mail.

The rest of the panel commented they support open markets, and called an effort to entrepreneurs to do the homework and prepare always how monetize the projects.

Post-series A large:

• Futurlink. Wimob rocks, allows us connecting the web and mobile world. Wimob send mobile content from the PC, in an easy way. They point high. Les judgement on video (and it broke a little presentation.
• Mippin. A site to have your Widgets, I know, I know, there’re many players in this arena. But Mippin offers improvements to display content and to speed up the browsing experience.
• Nimbuzz. It integrates all IM services (MSN, Yahoo,…) in a single application. The jury selected them as the best post-series. In my humble opinion, I've already seen many service like that, and another Post-series did the presentation better.
• Palringo. Messaging service, the presentation wasn’t enjoyable, and perhaps because it was late. They missed information for a presentation for these events.
• Taptu. A mobile searcher. But I don’t know if they can be an alternative of Google hegemony.

Finally there was a panel moderated by Mike of TechCruch on Open Business Models, quite persistent on the advertising model. Mike did a good job; the rest has left me eager to hear new ideas. The only thing that called my attention is a question from the audience, 'Where is google?'.

Just to finish, mention a change in our society. Time ago, the audience of an event was just hearing the presentations. Some years later, we got our mobiles, and sometime we were left outside to talk. Now people around me have their laptops, blackberry, everything, to keep working and twittering,… What will be the next stage? printers, and a coffee table? : )

Thanks to Rudy, Carles and Penélope for this great event.

Labels: events, m2eu

It has been an unbreakable event, but actually interesting. Yesterday my colleague Jaime, did the best advergaming presentation long time ago, to an audience with at least 6 mobile operators.
I still spot that kind of content will be a key within the mobile marketing. I also know operators are considering the flat rate is something we should deal, now.
In addition, I had the chance to chat with with Leif Fågelstedt, COO BLYK -meanwhile Germany won the match-. BLYK is a new big player landing in Spain, Just imagine a mobile operator in which you shouldn't pay;) . It will be the booster for mobile marketing, for sure.

According to Informa telecom investment in mobile marketing in the world is and will be (billions of dollars):

• 2006 --> 0.87
• 2007 --> 1.50
• 2011 --> 11.4

Forecasts for the year have been present throughout the event. Clusters of thunderstorms will continue to trek across the country. The thunderstorms have the potential to produce damaging winds, pounding hail, drenching downpours and a few tornadoes. And for sure January 4, 2009… will rains. Forecast and more forecasts.
Even matters worse I've seen errors in presentations based on errors in the press, which broadcast a message even more wrong. For example, 2010 will be invested in mobile marketing mobile, 250 billion dollars-based on some of the GSMA. Ehhhi! Jaime gets some Ferraris that sales are going to multiply by x250.

Also people still confuse between GSMA and MMA (Mobile Marketing Association), the MMA is a non-profit in order to define and educate on best practices. Is NOT an standardization entity.

One thing that I see important to rethink values, people use 10 times more mobile services if they have an iPhone. Not because it's iPhone, but because it is easy, a word of warning.

Now it's time to return to Madrid -I can’t see the match with Russia, -. We have to prepare the Mobile 2.0 event. Companies presenting projects: (http://mobile20.eu/)
PRE SERIES A companies

kooaba (Switzerland) - Mobile Image Search
Mobiluck (France) - Mobile Location-based IM, Chat and Social Networking
Secufone (Netherlands) - Mobility and Safety
Unkasoft (Spain) - Mobile Advergaming
ViiF (Germany) - Mobile Entertainment Community

POST SERIES A companies

Futurlink (Spain) - Proximity Marketing
Nimbuzz (Netherlands) - Mobile IM and Text Message Service
Mippin (UK) - Mobilizing the Web
Palringo (UK) - Vocal Instant Messaging
Taptu (UK) - Mobile Social Search

Early-Stage companies

It's good to start seeing Spaniards companies on the list.

Labels: company, educational, events

It has begun the countdown, today I started to spot the list of people who will attend the event and I liked it.
In the event we will defend the values of mobile advertising, and I say that because, sustainable publicity, respect for the environment, innovation and respect for users are more necessary than ever.
An example of traditional advertising I see -suffer- every day, advertising hand in hand, windscreens, and leafleting.

I suffer due several reasons; I didn’t ask for paper on my car’s windscreens, intrusive, obviously is something that anyone asked. The second and more importantly, the Amazon forest is disappearing at an alarming rate, so every time I see that we abuse of our forests to do something so pointless, I get grouchy. And therefore, the publicity achieved is absolutely negative.
I also believe that companies who use these means have a low level in their marketing departments.

The digital advertising, online advertising, I hope to grow and the event will IIR ideas to advertisers to work in a more sustainable way.

So we need to save our natural resources to do their job better.

Labels: advergaming, company, events

Advergaming On The Fly is a killer in-game advertising solution for any Mobile Marketing Campaign. Such innovation, received the Innova Aetical Award.

Federación de Asociaciones de Empresas de Tecnologías de la Información, Comunicaciones y Electrónica de Castilla y León (AETICAL) delivered last Friday May 16, which promotes and rewards the work and professionalism of businesses and individuals more have contributed to technological development.

Unkasoft, was recognized in the category of most innovative regional ICT Project for its work in the field of in-game advertising. Jaime Lanchares, CEO of Unkasoft, received this award from Jesus Garcia-Cruces, General Director of Health Development of Regional Administration.
Jaime Lanchares, Unkasoft CEO: "We didn't know that couldn't be done and we did it."

Labels: company, events

Our next Mobile Monday Madrid on May 26, 2008 will dive into the wonders of Mobile Entertainment. MoMo invited, Pablo González, Grupo Zed B2B Manager; Ricardo Mena Muñoz, Digital Jokers & Mayhem Studio Marketing Director; Jaime Lanchares, Unkasoft CEO and, for sure, Luís Esteban, Arvato Mobile Director.

I mean it’s an event really interesting to see at what point this world of mobile entertainment is. Also it’s a good chance to meet all of us and chat a while.

Labels: events, mobile games, mobilemonday

Unkasoft, in particular Jaime will be one of the speakers at IIR's Mobile Advertising 2008. So June 23th will be the moment in Brussels to comment our experiences and listening to the rest panellist. Personally, IMHO, mobile advertising is the future but we must arrange it today.

As the IIR‘s team says: ’2008 certainly looks like being the year when this nascent market finally gears up for growth. The rollout of flat rate data pricing by operators across the globe has boosted mobile internet and content markets, crucially increasing the reach and effectiveness of mobile advertising”. As we commented recently in the MMA’s committees, educating the market - advertisers, the media and the rest of the ecosystem - represents one of the biggest challenges facing the advertising industry moving at the moment. And mind the standardization necessary for a successful market.

Therefore under the IIR am convinced that this is a good forum to rely on the agenda with people like:

Xavier Perret, VP Communication Suite & Digital Advertising, ORANGE FT GROUP

Juhani Kivikangas, VP Content, TELIASONERA

Tanya Field, Head of Mobile Internet, O2 UK

Carl Taylor, Director of Applications & Services, Global Technology Strategy, HUTCHISON WHAMPOA (EUROPE)

Stefaan Van Dyck, Head of Business Development, PROXIMUS

Nuno Lopes Gama, Mobile Internet & New Business Manager, SONAECOM

Giles Rhys Jones, Director Interactive, OGILVYONE & OGILVY ADVERTISING

Alain Heureux, President, IAB EUROPE

Joy Whitehead, Communications Director, ZED MEDIA

Henry Stevens, Director of Media & Entertainment, GSMA

…

Also our friends from Gomo News are one of the media partners, something that I am glad to see.

Last Friday Ricardo told me that Crisis in Latin means opportunity. But I’m opting for representation in Japanese, which means simultaneously two very different things, opportunity and danger. In this Crisis scenario, I see an opportunity in the mobile marketing, but what we must be prepared to avoid possible dangers.

I hope you join us there.

Labels: advergaming, company, events

I’m concerned with social issues as many of you, including equal opportunity. With equal opportunity I mean that protects all have the same conditions to compete. For example, I and a person with restricted mobility can enter the same pavilions to compete for customers, present ideas, and so on.
Well, after ask for a stand accessible for people with restricted mobility, in order to avoid problems of previous years. We request that the Spanish Pavilion at Fira de Barcelona, was accessible. Something obviously in other places likes IFEMA in Madrid. Wrong, I arrive and see that is not mounted in an accessible way.
I went to De Boer office, and they told me that there are no ramps for security reasons. Will their safety or people with reduced mobility ones?
They just gave me the following paper:
Basically, saying person restricted mobility should call each time they want to enter or exit from a pavilion. Certainly, De Boer is the worse company to organise events, really unprofessional. If I do not depend on anyone to enter, why should depend another professional on them?

I believe we must punish more, especially in these cases. Tomorrow I will complain to the Fira, and I’ll meet with organizers of the pavilion, in order to avoid this shameful spectacle.

Labels: events